pit bull terrier
1
3.2
- noun
- /ˈpɪt bʌl ˈtɛrɪər/
:
pit bull terrier
- With their short coat and athleticism, the American pit bull terrier excels in various dog sports.
- American pit bull terrier
Examples
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The mixed-breed pit bull terrier appeared to be the victim of animal cruelty.
Blog text (13) -
The physiognomy of Brown's dog has only recently come back in vogue, with its contemporary hybrids, the rather infamous pit bull terrier and the Staffordshire bull.
Academic text (1992) -
The American pit bull terrier is known for its muscular build and energetic nature.
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Many families choose to adopt an American pit bull terrier because of their loyalty and strength.
Synonyms
40
3.9
A strong, muscular dog often kept as a pet and known for loyalty
1
3.6
A strong, muscular dog breed from the United States with a short coat and high energy
How Muscular
7
4.1
20
3.1
1
3.2
4
2.7
46
2.4
23
1.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The presence of 'terrier' makes it clear to a B1 learner that this refers to a type of dog, and 'bull' conveys an idea of strength or robustness, so part of the meaning is inferable from the constituents. However, 'pit' (and the historical sense 'pit-bred' or fighting-pit origin) and the full sense of a specific American muscular breed are not predictable from the literal words alone, so full understanding requires prior cultural/lexical knowledge.
Etymology
Pit bull terrier likely comes from a simple, literal image: these dogs were once bred for fights in small 'pits' and for fights with 'bulls', so the words pit and bull describe their early role. So, today pit bull terrier refers to a strong, brave terrier breed.